Many years ago, I once took a taxi on Sado Island. I asked the driver, "Where is the best restaurant for cold yellowtail?" He replied, "Oh, Benkei in Sawada is good for that.

Benkei is a sushi restaurant in Higashiodori, Sado City (Sawada area).

Yes, it is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. However, it is directly operated by a local fisheries company (Kozaki Fresh Fish Store). Professionals carefully select and purchase the freshest seafood caught in the sea through a unique route. Therefore, the freshness and quality of the ingredients are renowned and recommended by local taxi drivers.

The second branch of Benkei opened in Niigata City in 2010. It is located in 'Pier Bandai', which opened in Bandaijima, Chuo-ku (former site of a fish market) and is a popular restaurant.

Benkei has now opened its third branch. It opened last April (2013) in the reopened 'Aeon Niigata Aoyama Store'.

Unlike the previous two restaurants, Benkei Aeon Niigata Aoyama is not a "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant, but a counter-style restaurant. We visited the new Benkei, which has a slightly different atmosphere to the existing restaurant.

Atmospheric but high-tech interior.

After a long preamble, here we are at Benkei Aeon Niigata Aoyama Store.

It was just after 1pm on Sunday when I entered the restaurant. Peak lunchtime was probably over. We saw about three groups of customers waiting for their turn at the entrance.

This is where you would normally write your name and the number of people on the waiting board, but there is a special touch-screen terminal in front of the cash register where you can enter your name and register to wait your turn. You enter the number of people and the seat you want (counter or table). It's some kind of amazing IT system.

The shopkeeper also checks the status of the waiting list on a tablet terminal at the cash register and guides customers through the queue.

A few minutes of waiting. Our turn came around. This time, we had come in a group of several people, so we wanted to sit at a table.

The restaurant has a large counter in the centre, surrounded by a row of tables. The atmosphere is a little more relaxed than the two earlier revolving sushi restaurants.

Tablets are also placed at the tables. This tablet is the menu. Orders are also sent from this tablet. You can also check the 'Today's Recommendation'.

Incidentally, if you are seated at the counter, you can order verbally directly from the artisan.

Sushi with fresh fish from Sado Island! And also Sado beef steaks..!

This time I ordered the nigiri set 'Okesa (ordinary)'. This costs 950 yen (excluding tax).

Of course, the taste was perfect.

The menu includes many set menus, chirashi-zushi and a la carte dishes. There was also a 'Sado Beef Dice Steak', which we did not order this time. Sado beef is a rare find even on Sado Island!

Benkei, where you can taste sushi with fresh fish from Sado Island while still being in Niigata City, has two branches: the Pier Bandai Branch in Bandaijima, Chuo-ku, and the Aeon Niigata Aoyama Branch in Aoyama, Nishi-ku. Each shop has a different atmosphere. Be sure to try Sado sushi at both shops.

Spotlight.

Kaitenzushi Benkei

• Website http://sado-benkei.com/
• Aeon Niigata Aoyama Store, Aeon Niigata Aoyama Store, Dining http://sado-benkei.com/store/aoyama/